What would y'all recommend I do with this acropora? Seems it is dieing but still has branches that are showing color.

[RiverChad]

One of my acros began bleaching a couple weeks ago after 1-2 years of immense growth and coloration. Not exactly sure why it began to bleach/die, as all of my other acros seem to be doing fine and look good. It currently still has some branches that look fine though, so I was wondering if I should attempt to frag those branches or leave it be and hope it recovers.

Parameters:
salinity: 1.026
Dkh: 8.4
CA: 440
Mag: 1350
Temp: 78
Nitrates: 2.9
Phosphate: .06
Flow: strong but not direct

 

[Reefing102]

Without whiter light and sharper pics, it’s hard to tell but I’d frag what might survive and go from there. They may still die but you may have luck too

 

[RiverChad]

Without whiter light and sharper pics, it’s hard to tell but I’d frag what might survive and go from there. They may still die but you may have luck too

I took a picture with blues so the live parts would be easily visible. The other branches are completely white with green algae starting to grow on them. I think I'll cut and frag the live parts. Do you think I should keep the bleached branches in my tank still and see if they recover or is there no hope for a bleached acro?

 

[Reefing102]

If it’s completely white and other algaes are beginning to grow, it’s likely STN and not bleaching (I could be wrong but last I knew a bleached coral won’t grow other algaes on its branches).

For fragging, I seem to have the most success cutting just above the dead portion (essentially leaving a small ring of live tissue).

As for leaving the dead piece in there, you’ll get mixed answers. Space for me is at a premium so I’d take it out and likely just sump it (free PH buffer as it slowly dissolves). If you don’t mind it, you can keep it in there but for me, dead Acro skeleton tends to grow a lot of hair algae.